The Dining Room Design Mistake That Is All Too Easy To Make

Dining room spaces have long been an expected element of home design. They're the place where we gather to share a meal — a connection building ritual that stretches back into antiquity. So when it comes to curating our spaces, we want to do it right. And while there is no one right way, there are definitely some classic pitfalls we can avoid. House Digest design historian Sarah Bilotta exclusively shared with us one of the easiest mistakes to make: overcrowding the dining room. 

"If you don't have a large dining room, don't try to crowd it with too much furniture," Bilotta said. "This can make the room look like it's trying too hard to be formal." It's both a style and functionality flaw. It can be tempting to squeeze an extra chair or two into the corner of the room for aesthetic appeal, since they're also practical furnishings; however, it isn't necessarily in the best interest of your space, particularly when there are more savvy ideas for maximizing a small dining room.

She also gave us some tips to tweak our spaces, making them more open, accessible, and comfortable for guests. By carefully selecting furnishings and considering the layout of the space in general, you'll be able to make a statement with your dining room, and it won't be one of discomfort.

In her exclusive interview with House Digest, Sarah Bilotta suggested giving some thoughtful consideration to the aesthetic and functionality of your space to combat this common design problem. "Overall, if you're not going for a formal dining room vibe, I would avoid large, imposing pieces of furniture, traditional turned wood chairs and tables, and heavy, dominating cabinetry (like china cabinets)." They not only occupy major square footage, but they can also overwhelm the space. 

Additionally, it may be useful to add a dose of practicality to your furniture choices. "Think about how many people you would like to be able to seat, at a maximum, before investing in a table," the design expert said. You may love an elegant table that seats eight, but if you rarely have more than four people over at a time, it may be best to look for a smaller version. "A table that can expand is usually a good choice," Bilotta pointed out. That way your furniture doesn't always take up the maximum space, but the extra room is there when needed. "Also, be sure that your dining room table fits in the space with ample room to move around it when the chairs are pulled out," she added. "Otherwise, it may be uncomfortable for your guests."

In addition to considering how far your table should be from the wall for comfortable dining, you may also want to employ another clever design tactic: mobile furnishings. "A table on casters is a great way to keep your dining room flexible," Sarah Bilotta shared in her exclusive House Digest interview. Our dining rooms often become offices, homework stations, and craft party central, so it makes sense that we have the ability to easily transform the space at whim. Packing the area with too much furniture would limit this flexibility.

The design expert shared a couple of additional tips to minimize crowding in the dining room. "You can also keep extra seating around the edges of the room, when you don't need all the chairs at the table at once." A cute bench can discreetly slide under the table or be styled against the wall. And, why not consider some accessory furnishings that are already super adaptable? "Bar carts and tea carts can serve as side tables when needed, or otherwise be pushed out of the way," Bilotta said.

The dining room design is unquestionably an essential element of our overall home decor scheme. But it's easy to forget that a balance of open space is needed for creating a sense of comfort and style in any room. By intentionally curating your furniture pieces and their layout, you can design a functional, adaptable, and comfortable dining room your family and friends will all enjoy.